The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-05-28

81 lA'-"''''''5'. -. 20
IF you are bored, then it will be your own
fault" remarked Goodwin. "Thc story isnot
long, anyhow; no, you won't suffer much
more than you actcipate. had formed a
high idea of Capt. Nathaniel Lyon when he
broke up the secession camp formed by Gov
ernor Jackson in st. Louis, and | was very
glad to be in his command. He had been APP
pointed brigadier, and | was with him at
Bonneville, where lie routed Confederate
force that the governor had got together, and
at Dry Spring, where he defeated McCullOch
When McCulIoch and Price united, and
threatened to gain possession Of southwest
Missouri, approved of Lyons determina-
ton to give them battle at Wilson'S Creek. in
spite of their superior numbers. | had en-
listed as private in st. Louis and was al
ready captain, SO that my opinion had
some weight We were all so inexperienced
then that man who had participated III such
skirmishe- TIVE called them battles rs Boone
VILE and Dry Spring was regarded as a tried
soldier.
How vividly l remember the 10th of
August, the day on which the engagement at
Wilson's Creek occurred The ground was
rolling, like most OF the land in Greene
county, Mo, with cumps of trees here and
there and n forest in the distance. The
weather was intensely hot, and the dust from
the movements of the adverse armies almost
suifocating. Gen. Lyon, as We were drawn
~ for battle, rode along the ime encouraging
the men. He told them how much depended
on the result Of the fight, to stand firm, to
remember the flag of the country, to think
that on each soldiers conduct the result might
hang. | could see that he was anxious, but
he looked hopeful. cheerful and undaunted.
A drawer, more patriotic man never fought
in the Union cause. | felt that he would, if
he should nve, lead us to victory; that he
could not fail. So lie seemed to affect every
body that came into his presence.
MY regiment was one of the first ordered
forward ON the enemy's right. We were
ordered to withhold our fire until within fifty
yards; but the men were so excited and UNI
disciplined that they began firing long before
they could do much harm. The fire was re-
turned when we were near enough to see the
faces of the COnfederates, and appeared to
lie very destructive. My men seemed to he
falling all around me. But | soon saw that
it was partially confusion in the ranks, caused
by unfamiliarity with danger. The men
were speedily rallied, and | observed that
only few had been struck. l ordered my
company not to mind the wounded and we
rapidly advanced bad had at the outset
keen sense of fear; believed 1 should be hit
every moment But the fear quickly passed.
l became intensely excited, and yet | was
outwardly calm. The dust and the smoke
Was close and sitting heard the roar
Of the engagement, mingled with the groans
of the wounded and their pitiful cries for
water. had choking thirst myself. The
field seemed like a burning desert. What
wouldn't | have given for drink of water,
and there was water nowhere, the canteens
being exhausted.
Notwithstanding my excitement | grew
steadily calmer. | ceased to think of myself
| had no idea of personal peril, though saw
men dropping constantly. When it was one
of our men, was amazed. When it was one
of the enemy, | was rejoiced, and found
myself shouting like the rest with delirous
Joy at every casualty on the other side. |
hungered for blood. was like a wild beast.
If | could have slain thousand Confederates
with blow Of my blade, | should have been
happy. One of our officers rode before us.
He waved his sword. and cried out something
that | could not understand The words had
scarcely left his lips when cannon ball
carried away his head, aud his bleeding trunk
fell to the ground. The incident did not
horrify or startle me; il only quickencd my
tigerish passion for revenge, and | yelled
with glee, n minute after, rs ! saw Con-
federate officer reel in his saddle and tumble.
1.-THE oddly uniformed line opposite, in which
butternut was a conspicuous color, showed
signs of giving way. Just then our standard
bearer, who was i'll advance, was struck and
fell. \ fresh Confederate force had been
ordered up to relieve the troops we had been
fighting, and bore down upon US in such
numbers that we were ordered to withdraw
slowly, our faces to the foe \ dozen mem-
bers of our regiment had hurried forward to
rescue he flag. which bad already been torn
from the staff by one Of the enemy, fine
looking fellow, AN officer plainly, and which
he thrust into the breast OF his coat. |
marked his countenance and figure. l was
sure that | should remember him. What
pleasure | should have taken in killing him,
in order to recover the colors of the regiment,
which felt it such disgrace TO lose i'll one
of the first real battles of the war.
But there was no chance of recapturing it.
We steadily fell back, and were soon relieved
by fresh troops. Our regiment had lost
heavily. Out of 600 or So, one quarter were
killed, wounded and missing, and the remain
der were in no condition for further fighting
at once. still mourned over the captured
flag. During the first year of the strife we
soldiers, you remember, thought the loss of
stand of colors rs bad as general defeat, and
we never altered our opinion greatly after
ward either 1t may be superstition, but it is
q patriotic superstition that every true soldier
is inclined to cherish. The flag of country
represents our highest interest.
IL could not bear to be off duty on that day.
As soon as | had quenched my excessive
thirst in a pool Of dirty water, where n score
of men were half frantic aud fighting for
drink, went to Gen Lyon and offered my
serv ic. to at as one of his aides. He ne
cep,ed it, and giving me II hor'e Seut me with
an order to a distant part of the field, lie
livered the order, but in doing SO bullet after
bullet whi>tled near me. one OF the bullets
passing through the skirt of iny coat l